fftffiUfWBWWpi i Hflpujpff m i wwwmr-w"--- The Commoner. AUGUST 25, 1905 The Foundations of Peace Dr. A. L. Blxby, the poet of the Lincoln, Neb., Journal, and the trustworthy guide,- philosopher and friend of all men everywhere and on all subjects, except politics is authority for the fol lowing: A gentleman traveling through tho west ern part of the state a few days ago stopped off to look at a piece of land that was offered for sale at a bargain. In going to the place it was necessary to cross a tract where tho prairie dos lived. His companion had a tar get rifle and requested him to take a shot at one of the little animals. He did so with deadly result, and to the great disturbance of his own peace of mind. The wounded beast barely had strength to crawl into Its den prob ably to suffer and die. "Thinking it over afterward," said the gentleman, and he was a gentleman through and through, "I couldn't figure out where I ha.d profited by taking the life of one of God's happy creatures, and I made up my mind then and there never to be guilty of -,uch wanton cruelty again. Even a prairie dog has a right to live." This is one place where figures won't lie. The best mathematician in all the world could not figure out where any man profits by the needless destruction of life. It is one of the good signs of the times that men are thinking more and more these days on such subjects and that there is a growing disposition to recognize that "oven a prairie dog has a right to live." Boys 'having concern for their standing don't tie tin cans on dogs' tails these days; and those who do, readily discover that that is one of the offenses not con doned under the "boys will be boys" rule. There are some who, coming in such stern contact with the miseries of men, are disposed to look lightly upon the efforts of the humane so ciety and kindred organizations, , contending that a more important work relates to the immediate wants of men rather than of birds and beasts. But organizations like the humane society , are doing a very necessary work in the education and the making of men. Every man whose interest has been enlisted in the humane society's work may be depended upon to do valiant service for humanity. Every child who has been impressed with the fact that it is wicked to destroy a nest or to inflict injury upon birds or beasts, has been made familiar with the paths that lead to that ever increasing circle of men and women where "I am my brother's keeper" is the alpha and the omega of the ritual. Macaulay told us "The Puritan hated bear baiting, not because it gave pain to the bear, but because it gave pleasure to the spectators." But today those who protest against the pigeon shoot, the docking of the horse's tail, the high check rein, the needless slaughter of birds or beasts or "any other detested sport that owes its pleas ures to another's pain" recognize not only the injury to the spectator but the rights of the dumb creature. The fine character created by Charles Reade gave to the men of his time and to the men of all time an excellent rule in "Put Your self in His Place." It is difficult to know just where to draw the line, and the conscience of each individual must determine. Some may not yet be willing to go quite so far as the man who, though passionately fond of fishing, found it difficult to obtain his own consent to run a sharp pointed hook through a beautiful minnow. When his companions laughed at him and told him that it did not hurt the minnow, he asked, "Then what makes the little thing squirm?" Many yet hold that the high check rein is not cruel, but those who have care fully Investigated know better; and while on some of these points there will be differences, sooner or later It will be agreed that man's right to destroy animal life terminates with his necessi ties for food, and that he can not find justifica tion in the destruction of such life in the desire for sport. "The proper study of mankind is man," and it is an interesting study, too. Because this is so it is strange that there are not more students in that school. Thos,e who have not availed themselves of the privilege of such study have no idea what a wonderfully-interesting thing it is. They can learn so many things they never' dreamed of be-' fore. And once they outer upon the study of men thoy will naturally be drawn at tho first oppor tunity to tho study of birds and of beasts. In that realm are limitless opportunities. In simplo fiction we may obtain inspiration for tho study of the horse from "Black Beauty," and for the study of the dog from "Beautiful Joe." John Burroughs can toll us facts we never dreamed of, an.d yet they are facts lying at our very doors and pro viding, as do all of Nature's studies, profitable and interesting investigation. Men disagree as to whether these dumb creat ures reason, yet there are many well authenticat ed tales showing some wonderfully human con duct on the part of these creatures. We aro told by "Farm Folks" that "on the top of a steep pinnacle of the Alps mountains surrounded by the dead white of the eternal snows through which an occasional clump of evergreen pro trudes, is a grave marked by a simple wooden tablet on which these words are carved: 'Here lies a friend of humanity, the savior of thirty-four men, women and children.' The creature to whom this monument was erected was only a dog. He was one of thoso great, handsome, gentle-eyed Saint Bernards which trail the dangerous paths of the treacherous mountains, watching for the lost traveler and bringing him to safety when found." The New Orleans Times-Democrat recently quoted a police officer who said that all the stray dogs who roam the streets at night seem to pick out the uniformed policemen as their friends, and that when the officers return to the station they are accompanied by a long procession of dogs of various degrees. Another and older officer said that he did not see any grounds for objection on this point, because he remembered an instance where two dogs which made it a habit to follow the same policeman every night saved that police officer his job. According to the story, this po liceman was not in the least bothered with in somnia, and when he got ready to take his nap on his beat . the dogs would take up their posi tions one at one end of the block and one at tho other. Whenever one of the dogs saw the ser geant coming he would run to the sleeping officer and rub his cold nose against the officer's face, arousing him from his sleep and thus warning him of the approach of his superior. C. R. Wigert of Lincoln, Neb., a retired drug gist who has traveled extensively, was not pre pared to welcome a dog to his home, but lie finally did so, and now no money could purchase that par ticular animal; and thereby hangs a talc. One day two dogs appeared at Mr. Wigert's house. One of them, a large animal, had been seriously crippled in the back. The other was a little, short-legged creature, and not at all attractive to the eye. Tho crippled animal hid himself under tho house and whenever the- little dog was fed it was no ' ticed that instead of eating the food he disap peared with it. He was followed several times and on each occasion was seen to carry the food under tho house, place.it before tho crippled ani mal, and stand wagging his tail as though grate ful for the opportunity of doing that kindness. In a few days the two dogs disappeared. Several days later the smaller dog returned and took up his home on the Wigert premises. His very ap pearance t-ggested the name he now bears, "Scrubby," but there is nothing of tho 'scrub in his characteristics. Because of the kindness he showed to Jiis crippled companion he found an appreciative master and a comfortable home. It is needless to say that he has found friends In the neighborhood among all who have learned his in teresting story. It was a good sign, wlien, despite President Roosevelt's great 'popularity, many criticisms were made when it was reported that he had participated in a hunt where animals had been captured and locked In a cage to be suddenly re leased In order that a chase might be made. And it was another good' sign when many newspapers crltcised former President Cleveland because In one of his newspaper articles he told of the great delight to be found in the chase for jack-rabbits, admitting at the same time that it was necessary for the chasers to take great pains to persuade these little animals to flee from their pursuers. A police officer in a western city was famous for his tenderness. He had been kiiown to weep at the sight of a man whose skull had been fractured by a police officer's club; and he had sho-wn what seemed ,to be at least on the rart of a police officer undignified concern over an injury inflicted upon a dog. Some of his fellow , officers good naturedly gibed him on his tender spot, and one of his superiors never lost an opportunity to taunt him. Thero was no tender spot in this superior's breast. He could stand tho sight of blood on man or on beast. Tho pain which others felt did not disturb him. But wo have been told that "tho bravost aro the tender est, tho loving aro tho daring," nnd on one occa sion it happened that this tondor-hearted man, accompanied this particular superior on a search for o pair of doHporate criminals. Tho criminals were found and thoy showod fight. Tho man who had been laughed at because of his tender ness, who had boon sneered at becauao of his tears at tho sight of another's woe, stood Ills ground manfully, risked his own llfo, nnd with tho aid of citizens whom he called to his support, arrested both of the dosperato men after being required to scveroly wound ono of them. Tho superior tho num who had so often laughed his subordinate to scorn because of his "weakness" took to his heels at the first shot and ran like a scared yoJf. History Is replete with Instances showing that "cowards are cruel but tho bravo lovo mercy and delight to save." ""Nature teaches beasts to know their friends." Have you over noticed that there is an affinity between tho boy and the dog? Turn loose a little child and a little dog or for that matter an old dog and see how soon they'll got to gether. On one occasion a man holding in his lap a puppy dog took a seat in a crowded street car. Beside him sat a woman, and beside the woman a Httlo boy. Leaning forward tho boy caught sight of tho dog and at the samo time tho dog caught sight of tho boy. In tho parlance of tho street "there was something doing." Tho little boy's eyes sparkled and the Httlo dog's tail wagged. Tho man found great difficulty in holding the animal and in order to prevent it from creating a commotion he found it necessary to pass It over to tho boy in whose lap the little animal nestled and was content. One of the busiest lawyers in a western city was generally regarded as a cross and crabbed man. He was a bachelor and it was notlcod-r- and to his credit it was said that ho had the habit when walking down tho street of stopping to rub the noses and pat tfio necks of tho boracs attached to tho hacks standing fn front of hotels. Some who would not bo willing to give tho devil his duo sajd that he only did that because It cost nothing, and by way of extenuation of his other meannesses. But finally it leaked out not with this man's consent, however, that as he had shown kindness to the Iwck horses he had shown kindness to men and women and Httlo children who wore helpless and needed friends. It developed that, unknown to tho world and known only to a few, he had regularly and'' quietly dispensed charity In a most liberal way. Men who keep their hearts young find pleas ure in dwelling on life's simple things. All may not be profound and i,f we could we would be so busy maintaining oiir dignity that we would miss the best part of this really good old world. But we may all learn from association with chil dren; we may be of great service in giving a word of cheer to some faltering comrade; we may obtain a wonderful amount of pleasure in doing a kind turn to some abandoned cur, receiving our reward In a hearty wag of the cur's tail like unto that for which tho old German said he wouldn't take a thousand dollars. Most of us are too dignified to repeat but some of us are simple hearted enough to remem ber one of the sweetest lessons of childhood conveyed in homely verse: "Little drops of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land. Little deeds of kindness, little words of love, help to make earth happy like the heaven above." The easiest thing In the world Is to train a child so that it will be considerate of the rights of birds and beasts, and a child trained in that way is safe. When he is grown he will be con siderate of the rights of men. He will learn that the essence of the law Is to "deal 'honestly, hurt nobody (and no thing), and give everyone (and everything) his just due." When ho learns to fulfill that law as it relates to the smallest and . most helpless of God's creatures he will lose no opportunity to become as a ministering angel to human beings In need. These are the foundations of peace for If the schoolboy of today is trained to speak softly and carry an olive branch instead of a "big stick," the statesman of tomorrow will be more reluctant to engage in war and more willing to assist in the restoration of order. RICHARD L. METCALFEi- "".1 wfrUAJ, w